Fish Eagle over Hluhluwe
Aug, 2015Views
352
Likes
Awards
People's Choice in South African Landscapes Photo Challenge
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
Absolute Masterpiece
All Star
Peer Award
Outstanding Creativity
Top Ranks
Top 30 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 30 rank week 2Top 30 rank week 1
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo at the Hilltop Lodge in Hluhluwe Game Preserve in North Eastern South Africa. It was Shaka's personal hunting preserve and the hilly terrain makes it unique.Time
I think it was early morning, not too long after sunrise. I was on the deck of our room which that looked out to the north. I had just come back out of the room to see a speckled green snake on the deck. At the time I didn't know it was a harmless speckled bush snake, but before I could raise my camera it jumped off the deck into the tree tops. I didn't get a shot of the snake, but before I could bemoan the loss an African Fish Eagle flew over...what luck.Lighting
The morning mist and clouds diffused the light a bit taking the edge off the highlights, but allowing the light to pass through some of the bird's feathers.Equipment
I used a Nikon D700 with a Tamron 300 f2.8 lens handheld.Inspiration
It was pretty much a grabeshot, it just happened, no time for thought, automatic reaction.Editing
I don't do much, if any, post processing other than tweaking in Aperture. I rarely use filters, crop, dodge and burn etc.In my camera bag
I like to travel light. I have a Lowepro camera case with wheels and a Lowepro backpack. My camera is a Nikon D700. I also carry a Pentax WB-111 in case I want an underwater pic. My lenses are all Nikon except my 300f2.8 which I don't carry very often because of the size and weight. I have a Nikon 14-24 f2.8, a Nikon 105 mm f.28 Micro and a 70-200mm f.2.8 with a 2X converter. For lighting I have a SB 900 Speedlight and a Nikon closeup kit with two small strobes. My tripod is a Manfrotto 190CXPRO4. It's very light, carbon fiber, fits in my suitcase and has tabs instead of those annoying Gitzo things. I rarely use filters except for ND filters. When packed in my roll around case it all weighs about 30 lbs.Feedback
This isn't the kind of shot you plan for. If I didn't already have my camera with the 300 f.28 in my hand I never would have caught it. It's impossible to have every alternative available for immediate use. You'd have to be an octopus.
